<p>Is there any advantage/disadvantage in being interviewed on campus as opposed to through a local alum, or is it pretty much the same deal?</p>
<p>On campus interviewers have training that alumni interviewers do not have. You are more likely (though not very likely in the whole scheme of things) to get a wacky interviewer off campus because of this. On campus interviewers are current students so they are more in touch with Yale today than alumni interviewers. I suspect most alumni interviewers do a great job--I certainly hope I do. Both types of interview hold the same value with the admissions officers.</p>
<p>I did an on-campus interview last year on a whim since I was there anyway for a month for JSA. Interview was okay, but in hindsight, I think I wud've rather had an alumni interview. You also want to make sure you have some "practice" interviews in before marching off to the interview of your top choice school.</p>
<p>DEFINITELY go with the alumni interview. As AdmissionsAddict pointed out, on-campus interviewers are trained. In my experience, they are more serious and clinical in their interviews, asking harder questions than alums, who tend to see the interview as more of a casual conversation and (for the most part) do not want to intimidate you. On-campus interviewers also see many, many more applicants, making them less easily impressed than are alums, some of whom may only interview three or four applicants each year.</p>
<p>Several of my relatives and family friends interview for top universities (Harvard, Yale, and Princeton) and I've seen first-hand that many alum interviewers actually have a vested interest in seeing their favorite interviewees admitted to their alma mater, almost like your admittance is THEIR accomplishment as well. My Harvard interviewer actually bragged: "I get at least one kid into Harvard each year, and you're gonna be this year's." (I was admitted a month later.) If you wow them (or just know how to play to their interests) then they will write a glowing rec, possibly even calling your local area admissions officer to follow-up. Some interviewers may be big donors or just very active with the alumni organization and actually have some sway with the adcom. On-campus interviewers, on the other hand, see their task as a job and probably couldn't care less who gets in and who doesn't.</p>
<p>i really don't agree with the above post. mine was really low key and the questions were pretty much like 'what do you think about high school?', 'what was your fav class?', etc</p>
<p>I disagree with Hopefulbulldog's assessment of the POWER of the alumni's interview. While his Harvard interviewer was certain, I believe it's just bluster. I've interviewed about 20 or so in the last three years. I'd say that 18 of them were viable candidates and I stated as such in my reports. 2 were accepted. The numbers just crunch that severely and I'm realistic. There are probably Yale alumni interviewers who have had 0 for 20 and it wouldn't be uncommon in all honesty. HopefulBulldog's characterization that "big donors'" interview reports are weighted more and that the student VOLUNTEERS who interview on behalf of the admissions office are uncaring is just idle speculation. My interface w/everyone from the admissions office has shown me that they are caring, sensitive and thoroughly professional in their aims to serve Yale and those who have subjected themselves to the rigors of applying to a school like Yale.</p>
<p>I also think that the admissions committee knows how to read alumni interviews. If someone writes a totally glowing report about a candidate with mediocre credentials, I think the admissions officers will just think the interviewer isn't in touch with admissions reality. Perhaps the student interviewers can be more trusted with their assessments because they've been trained and see enough kids to know when someone is really special. Regardless, the interview is not that important, although I've always thought a bad interview can hurt you more than a good interview can hurt you.</p>
<p>I did both last year. Assuming that they both hold the same weight as admissionsaddict said, i'd go with the on campus interview. On campus interviewers are only four years older than you are, so they're easier to communicate with. My alumni interviewer was a grumpy, ex CIA nut job.</p>
<p>The alumni interview really doesn't hold that much sway...both my parents interview for top-10 colleges and both are told, in emails/pamphlets/info sent to them by the colleges that interviews are more of a secondary source of information for the admissions committees. Like another poster said, a good interview certainly won't hurt you, but the interviewers themselves don't hold a lot of sway with the committees.</p>
<p>I did my on-campus last week. It went well; just be confident and try to make conversation and you'll do fine, either way.</p>